Study Desk

Paul,^(a) a slave of God^(b) and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to build up^[a] the faith of God's elect^(c) and their knowledge of the truth^(d) that leads^[b] to godliness,^(e)

in the hope of eternal life^(f) that God, who cannot lie,^(g) promised before time began.^(h)

In His own time He has revealed⁽ⁱ⁾ His message^(j) in the proclamation that I was entrusted^(k) with by the command^(l) of God our Savior:^(m)

To Titus,⁽ⁿ⁾ my true son^(o) in our common faith. Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.^(p)

The reason I left you in Crete^(q) was to set right what was left undone and, as I directed you, to appoint elders^(r) in every town:

one^(s) who is blameless,^(t) the husband of one wife, having faithful^[c] children not accused of wildness or rebellion.

For an overseer,^(u) as God's administrator, must be blameless, not arrogant, not hot-tempered, not addicted to wine, not a bully, not greedy for money,

but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy, self-controlled,

holding to the faithful message as taught,^(v) so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching^(w) and to refute those who contradict it.

For there are also many rebellious people, full of empty talk and deception, especially those from Judaism.^[d]

It is necessary to silence them; they overthrow whole households by teaching what they shouldn't in order to get money dishonestly.

One of their very own prophets said, Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.^[e]

This testimony is true.^(x) So, rebuke them sharply,^(y) that they may be sound in the faith

and may not pay attention to Jewish myths^(z) and the commands of men who reject the truth.^(aa)

To the pure, everything is pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; in fact, both their mind and conscience^(ab) are defiled.

They profess to know God,^(ac) but they deny Him by their works.^(ad) They are detestable, disobedient, and disqualified for any good work.^(ae)